I just lost my Arab two weeks ago. He was 27 1/2. My best friend for over 26 years. By far the smartest horse I have ever met. Rode him two weeks before I had to put him down due to colic. Miss him so much. At 59 I thought that I may not get another horse but have started looking for another Arabian. I have a 16.3 ottb but want another small go to guy like my old Traveller.kay yeager

i want buy a horse .pls help me at low priceSher khan

Billy Appaloosa gelding for sale £1000 He is a lovely natured 13.1 pony he is 9years old,I have had billy for a year and to be honest it’s a sad sale due to not enough time and my experience not being my strong point.Selling due to lack of time to reach her full potential. I would like billy to go to a loving caring experienced home where he is going to get the work and schooling he needs, he hasn’t been in work much in this last year either. He has a fantastic temperament, personality and bags of potential I have a 3year old and he is amazing around her and other children in my family.Morgan

I am looking to purchase a haflinger gelding for english riding on trails and ocean. Hopefully 15 hands with an age between 6-12. calm disposition of a 1-3 out of ten.janet

Looking for a Bay Gelding to drive with our Black Gelding thank you!Chris

I have a 10yo rigistered Pintabian gelding (99.21% Arabian) for sale. Stunningly beautiful black and white shiny coat with a few spots of grey and bay. Asking $3800 US dollars. He is trained and has been shown lightly in hunt seat. However he could go any direction. Serious inquires only please. Located in central Minnesota, USA.Alix

World of Horses and Ponies

Odenburg - Light Horse Breed

The first true horse, about the size of a small pony,
came into existence during the Ice Age!

The different breeds of horses come in a variety of colors, and vary greatly in height and size. Miniature Horses are around 34 inches in height while the Heavy Horses can be up to 72 inches tall measured at the withers. Modern horses are either Light Horses, hot blooded, that originally evolved in the southern hemisphere; or they are Heavy horses, the draft types, that evolved in the northern hemisphere. Ponies further evolved from both original light and draft horses, or wild races.

Our list of horse breeds covers a wide array of equestrian favorites. Each horse guide has horse information starting with horse backgrounds, a description of the breed, and horse pictures. Horse care and horse training are included with each horse guide to help in choosing a pet or for horse identification.

- The Draft Horses are the largest of the horse breeds. The Draft Horse Breeds, well known as a workhorse, are often referred to as a Heavy Horse. Heavy Horses have been used throughout history to aid in the civilization of man.
The names of Draft Horse, Draught Horse, and Dray Horse describe these horse by what they were developed for, pulling a heavy load.

- The Light Horse is well known as a pleasurable riding horse, and many excel in competition and the show ring. These breeds are smaller than the heavy Draft Horses, and the majority of them are larger than ponies.
The light horse breeds have ancient bloodlines, connecting their ancestry back to the oldest breed of horse. There are many modern breeds of horse, over 350. The majority of these are light horses and a number of them are newer light breeds developed to suit modern times.

- Especially popular for children due to their smaller size, the even tempered Ponies make pleasurable riding horses. Many also excel in equestrian disciplines and the show ring. Generally 14.2 hands high or under, all are smaller than the heavy Draft Horses and the majority are smaller than Light Horses.
Ponies differ slightly in appearance from other horse breeds with shorter legs, a rounder barrel, wider stronger bones, and somewhat shorter thicker necks. Their manes, tails, coats are also usually thicker.

Horses have a mane along the top of the neck and they have a long, flowing tail. These animals move on four legs and generally have four gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. But there are also some, the so-called ‘gaited’ horses like the Tennessee Walking Horse, that have three or five gaits.

A horse's height is measured in hands, each of which is four inches. They are measured from the ground to the top of the withers, or highest point of the back at the base of the neck.

Unless specifically chosen for breeding, most mature male horses are castrated, and are referred to as 'geldings'. An uncastrated male is a 'stallion' and a mature female is a 'mare'. Young juvenile horses are collectively known as 'foals'. Female foals are called 'fillies' and male foals are called 'colts'.

Horse Backgrounds
The horse’s history can be traced back almost 75 million years to the now extinct family of Candylarth, a prehistoric group of animals which were about the size of a medium-sized dog. They had five toes on each foot and thickened nails. These animals were the ancestors to horses and all hoofed animals.

The modern horse is the direct descendant of the Eohippus, which lived about 60 million years ago. The Eohippus had four toes on each forefoot and three on each hind foot with each toe ending in a small hoof. It had a pad in the center of the foot much like that of a dog that carried most of the animal’s weight. This pad has become the small growth on the back of the fetlock called the ergot on the modern horse. The Eohippus also had teeth meant for eating shrubs not for grazing on grass. These animals lived in the Americas, Europe, and Asia because at that time there were land bridges connecting the continents.

Horses continued to evolve and adapt to their environment. They became larger and began to eat grass as the climate became drier. The central toe began to bear most of the animal’s weight and the outside toes diminished in size and function.

How to Pick a Horse: Best Horse Breed
Knowing what you envision doing with your horse is an important consideration in determining how to pick a horse. Starting with the horse types and their breed characteristics, will give you a good overview. You can then narrow this down to individual horses that will be the best horse breed for you. Once you have chosen a breed, be patient in selecting your horse. Observe each horses temperament, alertness, and general manner as it is being handled. Also ask to ride any horse before making a commitment to buy.

Horse breeds come in a wide variety... of sizes, colors, and personalities. To get the right type of horse will take thoughtful analysis. Horses are primarily used for recreation and for competition. Getting the right horse depends upon what you want to do with your horse as well as your physique and abilities.

Owning a horse is big responsibility... it takes dedication and requires a commitment of both time and money. Horses need daily care, grooming, and exercise. There are many costs involved that include shelter and exercise facilities, feed, medical care, and shoeing; as well as equipment for grooming and riding. Also keep in mind that horses are long lived, with some breeds reaching 30 or more years.

Carefully review each horse breeds... characteristics, temperaments, and what uses they excel in. Then give some thoughtful consideration to what you and your family wish to use the horse for. Combine your use requirements and riding styles, as well as your physique and abilities, with each type of horse. Narrow your choices down until you have determined which horse breeds will be the best horse breed for you..

Light Horses
The majority of riding horses around the world fall into the category of light horse. All light horse breeds are originally descended from the Arabian type horse; the Arabian horse is the oldest breed on record with documented lineage. The light horses are considered either “hot” or “warm” blooded. Horses classified as being hot blooded are those resembling the Arab types; warm blooded horses are those breeds into which some heavy horse characteristics were introduced, similar to the European bred competition horses of today.
Centuries of selective breeding for specialized uses, as well as various environmental conditions, have influenced the development of hundreds of different breeds in this horse class. Most of these breeds range from 14.2 hands high to 17.2 hands high, and are generally faster and less bulky than the draft type and taller than the ponies. These horses are widely used for recreation and show.

Draft Breeds - Heavy Horses
The heavier draft horse was developed from the bulkier type of equine found in the northern hemisphere. These hardy horses evolved to survive in a colder harsher climate. Draft Horses are much heavier and broader than the light horses. These breeds are referred to as cold blooded, in reference to their quiet and calm temperament. They are heavy in the body, strong legged, and often have “feathers”, or long hair, covering their large hooves.
As early as the roman times, Europeans used these huge types of horses for heavy labor. They were used for pulling heavy loads in cities as well as for farm work. In the middle ages, their great strength and stamina made them a popular war horse, being easily able to carry a heavily armored knight into battle. They range in size from approximately 15.2 to 20 hands high, and are slower but more powerful than the light horse.

Pony Breeds
Ponies are generally considered to be 14.2 hands or smaller at maturity, however this is a general rule with many exceptions. Pony breeds have a slightly different appearance than the light horse breeds. They usually have thicker manes, tails and coats. They are proportionately shorter legged and rounder through the barrel. They have somewhat shorter and thicker necks and wider, stronger bones.
Ponies are well known for their superior intelligence and more tractable temperaments. Many of the pony breeds evolved where there was inferior nutrition and which resulted in a smaller breed. Ponies generally require less diligence in their care and often tend to be more independent than the other types of horses.
See More information: Ponies, Information and Horse Care For Pony Breeds

Horse Articles:
See the following articles for more specific horse information: